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Get the beers in and your glad rags on as three nights of Europop entertainment await. Yep, that’s right, it’s time Eurovision 2022!
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Paddy loves a sing song and the big man has tasked his trusty traders with whipping up a betting market for Eurovision 2022. You’ll find all the key things you need to know about this year’s competition below.
Where is Eurovision 2022 being held?
The PalaOlimpico in Turin, Italy plays host to the 66th Eurovision Song Contest after pop-rock group Maneskin triumphed at last year’s event with a banger called ‘Zitti e buoni’.
When is Eurovision 2022?
The first Eurovision semi-final takes place on Tuesday, May 10 from 8pm, with 17 countries battling it out for 10 spots in the final.
Ireland are among the 18 countries performing in the second semi-final on Thursday, May 12. It also starts at 8pm as the remaining 10 places in the final are dished out.
The UK are one of the ‘Big Five’ so they are already assured of a place in the final alongside France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The showpiece is scheduled to start at 8pm on Saturday, May 14.
Who is Ireland’s entry at Eurovision 2022?
Derry native Brooke Scullion, who finished third in Series 9 of The Voice UK, will represent Ireland with her song ‘That’s Rich’ after triumphing in Eurosong 2022.
Brooke is odds-on to crash out at the semi-final stage, however, and Paddy’s spokesperson said: “We hope we’re wrong, but it’s looking like That’s Rich could be a one hit wonder in that we’ll only get to see it performed on stage in Turin once. Brooke is as likely to belt out her song again in Saturday night’s final as Marty Whelan is of popping up as one of her backing dancers.
“As for the Lilywhites being revealed as Eurovision Song Contest superfans, it’s hardly surprising that they’ve turned their attention towards Turin, given GAA supporters from that neck of the woods in particular have been starved of success for the last couple of decades.”
And what about the UK?
TikTok sensation Sam Ryder will be belting out a song called ‘Space Man’ in the final. He rose to prominence on the social media site during the first coronavirus lockdown but the track has been hailed as the UK’s best entry in a long time.
Who are the favourites to win Eurovision 2022?
Eurovision 2022 takes place amid the backdrop of Mad Vlad’s invasion of Ukraine. The country will still be represented in the competition, however, with the Kalush Orchestra performing ‘Stefania’, a funky fusion of folk and rap.
It’s an expensive business hosting the Eurovision Song Contest so Italy will probably be desperate to avoid picking up the tab for a second year in a row, but Mahmood and Blanco’s duet on ‘Brividi’ is proving popular with punters.
It’s been a succession of humiliations for the UK at Eurovision in recent years but Sam Ryder could – whisper it quietly – end the country’s 25 years of hurt at the continent’s premier singing competition.
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